DVC worthwhile?

[TLSnell1981]

Following is a list of known sales prices throughout the history of the Disney Vacation Club. Note that these are base prices and do not take into account any promotional discounts applied at the time of the sale. DVC's promotional discounts have ranged from the Magical Beginnings program, which required owners to sell back their first year's points in order to obtain a discount, to flat price reductions off of the base. See the Promotional
Pre-Sales Discounts page for a summary of recent discount programs.
1991 $48.00 west opens
October 1991 $51.00
July 1992 $54.50
November 1992 $56.00
July 1993 $57.50
June 1994 $60.50
November 1994 $61.50
July 1995 $62.75
October 1995 Vero Beach Opens
March 1996 Hilton Head Island Opens
July 1996 Boardwalk Villas Open
J1999 $65.00
May 2000 $67.00 January
November 2000 Villas at Wilderness Lodge Open
January 2001 $72.00
June 2001 $75.00
June 2002 $80.00
July 2002 Beach Club Villas Open
December 2002 $84.00
August 2003 $89.00
April 2004 $95.00
May 2004 Saratoga Springs Opens
June 2005 $98.00
May 2006 $101.00

jjjjj

 

[rugman1969]

You are correct. I overshot what I thought I paid. After digging up the paperwork, I, in fact, paid $12000.00 in 2000 for my membership. I did misquote the original price. I thought it was $16000.00. Maybe I am thinking of what my sis in law paid for hers a few years back. That does significantly roll back my 320 to 240 per year. Still, it is getting ridiculous the things disney is doing and the way everything is going up. It is getting to the point where it is almost better to get a package and go. There are no real perks to help members absorb some cost of the things that would really make a difference to us. It took a while for disney to make the dining plan accessible to members, when members should have had first crack at it, and no discount for it. I noticed nobody commented on the member perks issues I brought up. Am I right? I think so. Logic can explain the perks are not really geared to save members much money for the investment we made. I posted a link with some surveys disney is doing about member perks. Notice park ticket discounts are repeated more than once.
Don't get me wrong, I really love going to WDW, and have since 1979. But if we can't see the changes disney has made in the way they do things, and their cookie cutter approach to upgrading and running things, then a prejudicial blind eye is being closed because of loyalty to WDW. I closed my eyes for a long time, now I am speaking out about it. There's no question that some of the magic has gone away. I want it back, and yes, I am greedy because of that, but I liked it. If that makes me a bad person or wrong, so be it. But don't sit there and say things are perfect, because they are far from it, and some things would be better off going back to the old way.

 

[rugman1969]

Now I know you are playing games. in 2000 you could pick up VB for 72.

nice try, but it didnt work.

Maybe some did, but not me. 80 per point on my contract. Guess I got the special Mickey grease.

 

[rugman1969]

I think you are on a wind up. In a different post you talk about OKW.

I cant believe you paid 106 per point for VB! If it's true I feel really sorry for you. I see VB points are now available at 36 via resale!

Don't believe it . I paid 80 per point. Had to pull out the paperwork after all of this. But now we are getting off topic.

 

[DVC Mike]

Does anyone feel their membership in DVC is just not worthwhile any longer? Am I the only person to feel this way? With points not going as far as they used to, member dues up to ridiculous amounts, is it really financially better to own, or would it be better to just pay as you go. I go every other year. What are thoughts on this?

I feel DVC is still worth it to me. Member dues are reasonable and since I typically go for 8 nights, the point allocation hasn't impacted me one bit.

 

[vicki_c]

You asked a question - does anyone else feel this way? Obviously, no one in this thread does.

If you know you're not selling as you posted, and no one seems to agree with you in this thread anyway, I'm not sure what the point of all this is?

Everyone has stated their reasons for not feeling the way you do - you disagree and won't be convinced. Not much else to say other than it sounds like you're going to be really unhappy with DVC for the balance of your contract life. So I guess either talk your spouse into selling or resign yourself to it.

 

[chalee94]

I know where the perks are listed. I have reviewed them extensively...Being a member, we SHOULD get a discount on tickets and dining plans as a member perk. Why do we not get this?

buying DVC guarantees you a chance to book at your home resort at a relative discount to rack rate if you do so quickly enough. you were purchasing a long-term lease commitment in a real estate interest. that's it.

everything else is a perk: AP discount, access to the DDP, even the ability to trade out for other DVC resorts at 7 months, whatever...they can all come and go.

if you thought you were paying for membership that conferred a special status on you compared to the rest of the great unwashed at wdw, you were mistaken.

And based on this going on for another 40 years, by the end, I will be paying over 200 per month in dues. How is this at all right?

do you know that in 1970, gas was only $.35 per gallon and a gallon of milk was a little over a buck?

i suppose the higher prices now mean that people hardly ever buy gas and milk?

a dollar in 1970 was not the same in terms of buying power as a dollar in 2010. if you really think a dollar in 2050 will be the same as a dollar in 2010, you're mistaken. (but sure, if you are on a fixed income, it is best to plan ahead for rising dues.)

You mention I may be putting off someone from buying their dream vacation, but I look at it as informing others who may not know the in depth info they will not get from DV unless they ask. Of course, if they are new, they will have no idea to ask, because they will not know.

DVC is not a "special status." it's true that during periods of economic distress, the mouse will often offer better deals to non-DVC members than to DVC members for stays on points. we are already "committed" to going so disney doesn't worry as much about us...but when/if the economy improves, "free" dining and other discounts will start to dry up...

perks can come and go...any perk. and DVC dining discounts are often meant to drive traffic to less popular restaurants rather than being a reward for DVC membership.

i'd also add that buying at VB is riskier because being on the coast increases the cost of insurance due to the risk of storm damage - with the result of higher annual dues and potential special assessments. i always try to warn potential buyers at VB to think twice.

if you didn't know this when you bought, i'm sorry. definitely stick around and help newbies figure out whether DVC is right for them. temper some of the starry eyed illusions that they are buying "part of the magic..."

(just please, please don't go to wdw with the notion that "i spent $xx,000 to be a DVC member, i'm entitled to more!" it drives the rest of us DVCers crazy.)

 

[sweetdana]

I use the AP discount saves me 300$ a year, which is 1/2 the cost of my dues. I have 160 points at SSR. So no way will I get rid of it.. When I can plan in advance it is perfect. As well it gets me some time in a 1 bed room.

I think it works if you love 1 resort, own there, and plan 11 1 year in advance, and stay in larger rooms DVC is Flawless.. and I don't always plan same trps every year, sometimes 1 bed some times studio, sometimes I decide to go on a 1 week notice.. All not so good with DVC.

I booked FD at BC for Aug 2011, cost 3,500$ for 10 days. (inc 2 days tickets I will use to upgrade AP passes later). With points it is 151 points, (say 1,600$) and cost of dining for us is about 1,000$. It is about 800$ more. Promos like this, I am not buying more points, but I am not selling the ones I have. I like having a smaller contract with only a 1 trip a year obligat. I can do a 1 bedroom, and flex to do promos Disney runs, or go when there is no avail at DVC. I like both options.

 

[hot_mama]

We just aquired enough points at BLT to be able to go to WDW at least twice in one year. (so we will get discounted AP's) We have school aged children, so are limited to times of the year when these deep discounts do not apply. We LOVE disney and that is the main reason we became members, but also we did feel like it was a better deal for us. We have never been able to afford or even find the availability we wanted at christmas before, and are now planning on christmas in 2011! For us, this affords us MORE quality time at disney in LARGER rooms. We have been several times paying cash and love the deluxe resorts, and I can tell you that the cash prices for an 8 night stay with park hoppers is FAR more expensive than DVC!

 

[rugman1969]

I know where the perks are listed. I have reviewed them extensively...Being a member, we SHOULD get a discount on tickets and dining plans as a member perk. Why do we not get this?

buying DVC guarantees you a chance to book at your home resort at a relative discount to rack rate if you do so quickly enough. you were purchasing a long-term lease commitment in a real estate interest. that's it.

everything else is a perk: AP discount, access to the DDP, even the ability to trade out for other DVC resorts at 7 months, whatever...they can all come and go.

if you thought you were paying for membership that conferred a special status on you compared to the rest of the great unwashed at wdw, you were mistaken.

And based on this going on for another 40 years, by the end, I will be paying over 200 per month in dues. How is this at all right?

do you know that in 1970, gas was only $.35 per gallon and a gallon of milk was a little over a buck?

i suppose the higher prices now mean that people hardly ever buy gas and milk?

a dollar in 1970 was not the same in terms of buying power as a dollar in 2010. if you really think a dollar in 2050 will be the same as a dollar in 2010, you're mistaken. (but sure, if you are on a fixed income, it is best to plan ahead for rising dues.)

You mention I may be putting off someone from buying their dream vacation, but I look at it as informing others who may not know the in depth info they will not get from DV unless they ask. Of course, if they are new, they will have no idea to ask, because they will not know.

DVC is not a "special status." it's true that during periods of economic distress, the mouse will often offer better deals to non-DVC members than to DVC members for stays on points. we are already "committed" to going so disney doesn't worry as much about us...but when/if the economy improves, "free" dining and other discounts will start to dry up...

perks can come and go...any perk. and DVC dining discounts are often meant to drive traffic to less popular restaurants rather than being a reward for DVC membership.

i'd also add that buying at VB is riskier because being on the coast increases the cost of insurance due to the risk of storm damage - with the result of higher annual dues and potential special assessments. i always try to warn potential buyers at VB to think twice.

if you didn't know this when you bought, i'm sorry. definitely stick around and help newbies figure out whether DVC is right for them. temper some of the starry eyed illusions that they are buying "part of the magic..."

(just please, please don't go to wdw with the notion that "i spent $xx,000 to be a DVC member, i'm entitled to more!" it drives the rest of us DVCers crazy.)

Why would anyone as a dvc member think they are special? I don't feel this waybecause I'm a dvc member, I feel special everytime I go to wdw even before dvc. I started this thread asking if anyone else felt the way I did. I never once said "I feel special". Of course I do, as not everyone has the means of being a DVC member, but I do not feel I am entitled to special treatment, nor do I go to wdw with the notion I feel I am entitled to more than anyone else. Everyone who goes there spends hard earned money to be there, and have every thing available to them as I do. nothing special. And you are right, one of the reasons I informed of certain things relates right back to what you said about newbies. they do not know, and they won't be told unless they ask. They won't ask, because they don't know. It is up to people who know to inform them. Just like I didn't know dues were different from resort to resort. Had I known, I may have bought into a different one. I didn't know nor did I ask, because I was not informed. And you are right, buying into dvc does give us a more committed status, which means loyalty. When customers display loyalty, they usually get better deals than those who don't. I'm not saying it happens everywhere, but it does happen. And I'm not expecting it, I'm just saying. And if you look at the dues over the past 10 years, if they continue to rise as they are, it will be over 200 a month. I am basing that nymber on the past 10 years. And you can't compare prices of a luxury to a neccesity. It's not even the same thing.

 

[mopee3]

I started this thread asking if anyone else felt the way I did.

No, Nada, not even. I share my membership with my kids, grandkids, close friends, and not so close friends. Yes I could "rent" my points out, take advantage of "all" those Disney special deals, but it would leave all the people I love out, watching me do my thing at WDW/DL. Personally if I felt like you do I would "man up", "take the bull by the horns", "make a decision", etc. an sell my contract(s). But then I have a feeling you are just here to maybe stir the pot??


Moe

 

[Deb & Bill]

Rugman, I'll agree with you somewhat. I'm not as enamored with DVC as I was when we bought in 1997. We've sold off two contracts and sold for more than we paid. If we sold our remaining contracts today, we probably wouldn't get what we paid (but we would have had several nice years).

DVC isn't the same as it was in 1997. The focus on more and more construction takes a lot away from what it used to be. There was more focus on the members in the past. If they built WDW resorts as fast as they are building DVC, there wouldn't be any room in the parks for all the guests. I guess I am thankful for that.

When talk about building at the Contemporary first started, we were interested. But when talk of points in excess of $110 a point also started, we stopped thinking about that resort. Plus when they showed the models with the architectural mistake of the BLT studio, it made me think they valued members even less.

All the talk about enhancements based on member feedback is a joke. And the surveys they have been sending out lately are also a joke. I'd rather they just focus on the members they have and take care of the resorts they already have.

 

[McCrae]

Rugman, I'll agree with you somewhat. I'm not as enamored with DVC as I was when we bought in 1997. We've sold off two contracts and sold for more than we paid. If we sold our remaining contracts today, we probably wouldn't get what we paid (but we would have had several nice years).

DVC isn't the same as it was in 1997. The focus on more and more construction takes a lot away from what it used to be. There was more focus on the members in the past. If they built WDW resorts as fast as they are building DVC, there wouldn't be any room in the parks for all the guests. I guess I am thankful for that.

When talk about building at the Contemporary first started, we were interested. But when talk of points in excess of $110 a point also started, we stopped thinking about that resort. Plus when they showed the models with the architectural mistake of the BLT studio, it made me think they valued members even less.

All the talk about enhancements based on member feedback is a joke. And the surveys they have been sending out lately are also a joke. I'd rather they just focus on the members they have and take care of the resorts they already have.

Do you feel you made the correct decision to buy DVC in 1997 or is it an investment you regret?

If the marketing claims DVC make are true by now you should have saved much more than your initial investment, do you agree?


You have already sold some of your contracts, do you think you will ever sell all of your DVC points?

Sorry for the questions, just interested to hear how someone who has owned DVC for a long time now feels?

 

[Greysword]

To answer your question, Rugman, yes we still love our DVC membership, and we use it about as much as you do.

As for your ancilliary points, Charles already mentioned the inflation, so I waon't dwell on that. However, it is important to note that gasoline, milk, and other products have also had a significant increase in price over the past 10 years, while salaries have also increased (as a whole).

I wish you had provided more information regarding your membership, as we don't truely know how many points you own at each resort. Thus, I am unable to completely sympathize with your plight due to a lack of scope.

Ancilliary costs at WDW (food, parks, shopping, etc) are not included, and I will give you the benefit of the doubt that you fully conceptualized the impact of this at the time you purchased. Food costs for DVC members should be lower (overall) compared to WDW Hotel guests, since we have facilities that enable us to buy and store groceries and eat many meals in the room.

Almost all of the smaller perks available to DVC members are provided by outside vendors (even the vallet parking). Perks are offered to DVC members as a way to entice spending behavior, instead of as thank you gifts. As such, perks will come and go based on member activity on our stay and the desires by Disney to enhance revenue in a specific area. The annual passes are likely designed to entice more frequent visits by membesr to WDW sooner than later (since annual trips are planned closer together to take advantage of the passes before expiration). Thus, it is unfair to expect Disney to be altruistic, when they are clearly channeling incentives towards revenue generation.

That said, it sounds like you are depresed about the current cost of your membership compared to the costs paid by an average WDW visitor. If you truely want to rediscover the value of DVC, I would suggest going back and taking a look at the long-term costs of a WDW vacation stay vs. your membership. You can figure out the average increase in annual dues, as well as the average increase in WDW Hotel rates, food prices, and ticket prices. Compare them over the next (whatever) years to get the true picture of your membership, since DVC is not a short-term program. (Please keep in mind that the economy moves in cycles, and it is likely we will emerge from this downturn in the next couple years and begin a recovery, which will peak in the next 20 years, then shift slowly downward).

Many of your concerns about quality of service, rooms, food, perks, and prices have been (and will likely be) addressed in seperate threads, which focus on each of these topics exclusively. I would like to suggest reading those threads and providing your experiences and solutions individually instead of in a lump thread. The topics are too diverse and specific to paint with a general brush.

- Chris

 

[brenalexacamp]

I bought resale last October- I paid 10000 in cash for 150 points. there were a few points left on the contract. I used it for a week at SSR in Feb, 5 nights in July, and we will use 4 nights in October. These stays would have cost me roughly 6000. So I almost am even with my purchase price.

I would not have gone 3 times if I had to pay rack rates or even had a pin. i would like to go once or twice a year. if I get a good deal on airfare, I would pop down there again. My mf's are 600 a year. If I stayed at POR for a week I would be looking at roughly 200.00 a night-for 6 nights=1200.00

So I look at it as for 600 mf's a year, I get a fabulous room, fabulous location-Location DOES matter. The buses, the monorail, no long waits. Queen and king beds! We are a family of 5. Free laundry and internet. Freezer for my kid's ice cream! I could never afford to pay to stay at a dvc if I didn't own.

I've had the free dining-at POR when everything was included. It was awesome-The bus situation was horriblw that august. I would rather give up free dining(not the same now anyway) and have bigger beds/teens don't want the trundle anymore. We have queens at home-going into a double is torture.
what ever is important to you- DVC rocks for us!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Do you feel you made the correct decision to buy DVC in 1997 or is it an investment you regret?

If the marketing claims DVC make are true by now you should have saved much more than your initial investment, do you agree?


You have already sold some of your contracts, do you think you will ever sell all of your DVC points?

Sorry for the questions, just interested to hear how someone who has owned DVC for a long time now feels?

We most definitely will sell the rest of our contracts. We still like going to WDW, but we stopped drinking the Koolade and snorting the pixie dust several years ago. DVC was never an investment. It was just a way to vacation at WDW.

If we hadn't gone to WDW at all, we would have a whole bunch more money in the bank. So while we got lovely accomodations for a lesser price, we could have saved a bunch by not going at all.

Several years ago we were going two, three and four times a year. A couple of years ago we saw all the money we were spending and decided once a year was enough. We often will tie a WDW vacation in with a Gulf Coast beach vacation in South FL. But we probably would be satisfied with just going to the beach and hitting the national parks in the NW and not going to WDW at all. It's been fun, but it's been very expensive.

I can't imagine young families with small children buying in at BLT at the prices they are selling it at now. How do they afford it? Plus tickets, food and transportation to WDW are not cheap.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

I think it is very worthwhile. I am getting great accomodations at a low price. I would not pay cash prices at the Boardwalk, but have spent as many as 11 nights for about $750 in annual dues. I could not stay at a value for that!
Free dining is not what it used to be--you now have to buy a 5 day ticket. If you have AP's this makes it not a great deal at all.

 

[katybug34]

We most definitely will sell the rest of our contracts. We still like going to WDW, but we stopped drinking the Koolade and snorting the pixie dust several years ago. DVC was never an investment. It was just a way to vacation at WDW.

If we hadn't gone to WDW at all, we would have a whole bunch more money in the bank. So while we got lovely accomodations for a lesser price, we could have saved a bunch by not going at all.

Several years ago we were going two, three and four times a year. A couple of years ago we saw all the money we were spending and decided once a year was enough. We often will tie a WDW vacation in with a Gulf Coast beach vacation in South FL. But we probably would be satisfied with just going to the beach and hitting the national parks in the NW and not going to WDW at all. It's been fun, but it's been very expensive.

I can't imagine young families with small children buying in at BLT at the prices they are selling it at now. How do they afford it? Plus tickets, food and transportation to WDW are not cheap.

This is the fundamental question for anyone considering DVC. Can you afford to vacation at Disney on a regular basis? DVC membership provides a discount on deluxe accomodations - this is a given and the reason to purchase. However, the costs of transportation, dining, purchases, tickets must be taken into consideration when making this purchase. I feel that many who purchase DVC don't take these into consideration and only look at the "monthly payments" of their loan or the cost of their annual dues. They forget about the $2000 per trip of other costs. This causes them frustration and then they want out.

For our family, we see the entire experience as an investment in our family. Could we take the $5-6K per year we spend at Disney in addition to our DVC membership costs and invest it in good mutual funds and have more money at retirement? Absolutely, but the payoff for us is in the memories and time with our children now.

When purchasing DVC, factor in the annual costs of taking the trips to Disney in addition to DVC costs. When we travel, we stay in deluxe accomodations wherever we go, so for us it is a no-brainer. Couldn't be happier with our choice!

 

[vicki_c]

Free dining is not what it used to be--you now have to buy a 5 day ticket. If you have AP's this makes it not a great deal at all.

2 day ticket, 3 night stay is the min. requirement for free dining now.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

2 day ticket, 3 night stay is the min. requirement for free dining now.

That is fall free dining. The lastest round of free dining which I think is this December and into 2011 requires a 5 day ticket for everyone on the reservation. I'm sure that will be the new deal. Last year was 1 day, this fall 2, now 5. The discounts are effectively being cut back which makes DVC more attractive.